Why was Ivanka Trump in Syracuse and what is P-TECH?
P-TECH, or Pathways in Technology, is an innovative approach to education resulting in student and local economic success. Locally, the Syracuse City School District (SCSD) and Auburn Enlarged City School District have partnered with community colleges and area employers to offer an accelerated path, starting in 9th grade, for students to bridge the skills gap with a curriculum that is aligned with local business needs. MACNY’s commitment to workforce development is enabling its affiliate, Partners for Business & Education (PEB), to bring local businesses right into the classroom and bring those same students out to the workplace.
PEB works diligently to align business visits and job shadow experiences for students in their chosen P-TECH Program. Current programs in the SCSD include Mechanical Technology, Electrical Technology, Health Information Technology, Computer Information Systems, and Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems. Current programs in the Auburn Enlarged City School District include Electrical Technology and Mechanical Technology.
It is all about exposing students, as early as possible, to local careers that are within their grasp. It is essentially career awareness, career exploration, and career preparation.
So what brought Ivanka Trump to Syracuse? Ivanka heard about this model and initially visited a P-TECH location in Connecticut. Congressman John Katko, has become a local champion for the P-TECH model here in Syracuse and invited Ivanka to a roundtable with local collaborators including three students who have successfully completed P-TECH programs and are recent graduates of the P-TECH program at SCSD’s Institute of Technology (ITC). The roundtable also included the SCSD superintendent, school principal, and a P-TECH teacher, along with representation from Onondaga Community College, area BOCES, CenterState CEO, and MACNY.
This was an amazing hour-long assessment of a successful program that needs to become a national model supported by national recognition and funding. Ivanka’s genuine interest was evident in her attentiveness and exchanges with the panel. It was clear that she is committed to moving this model forward.
How can you get involved? Commit to allowing your employees to volunteer as career coaches/mentors, host visits/tours of your workplace, provide guest speakers in the classroom, enable relevant job shadow experiences and/or sponsor an internship.
To learn more, contact Partners for Education & Business at 315-474-1012.
For more on this event, click here.